Dropping a GCSE this late in the course

[KatyMac]

DD is taking GSCEs Eng Lang, Eng Lit, Maths, Additional Science, Business Studies (Appplied Business?)& BTEC Drama

She already has GCSEs in Geog, Science, Spanish, Music, (& functional skills whatever that is) & BTEC Dance

Last term was horrendous with a lot of time off auditioning for post 16 training (in Dance) & she is terribly behind in Science and Business (& Drama...but I'm less worried about that).

As she HAS to have English & Maths and I think Science is important is it worth trying to drop Business to concentrate on the others? There is little point dropping Drama as it doesn't involve the same amount of course work (plus the teacher expected last term so planned assessments earlier in term and this term to help her)

I don't know if the school will let her but is it worth asking?

The thing about dropping something is what will she do in school during those missed curriculum hours. She has to be in a classroom doing something. The school are extremely unlikely to be able to accommodate her on her own because then why not others? Many children could create just as good a reason to drop a subject and they cannot all sit in a room somewhere doing self-study.

This sort of thing is life. My daughter is moving on to University and has had three interviews this month as well as two unit assignment to be in for 2nd February (which goes towards her final grade). She has had to work really hard. Really, really hard. I would suggest rather than talking about dropping something, she creates a revision type timetable to make sure she can catch up and complete the work. I don't suppose this will be the last time in her life a problem like this will occur.

Maybe, she already flexi schools for a few sessions & has been self-studying since yr9 when she dropped sport/PE

But saying that since the start of term she has been going it to study Science & Business; her report is suggesting she is catching up in Science but not in Business.

I suppose I'm concerned she will fail Eng & Maths, because she is catching up on Business

She has phoned in tears - she couldn't get a seat on the train and has missed 2 hours of homework

She is pulling a 7 day week atm & I think it's getting to her

Nothing lost by asking the school. My dc dropped a GCSE at about this stage. It would have been extra work and pressure he really didn't need. Deffo drop Business not Science, imo. And yes, I would.

Honestly the school really must let her drop it if she is ringing you in tears. It's not in their interest to have her going to pieces.

In our case, dc school didn't bat an eyelid.

Don't go in asking to drop anything. Go into school with her, her diary and all work together to agree the best plan of action.

If she is going to follow a demanding and stressful career you don't want her in tears over all of this at 15.

If it's a BTEC, how much work is there left? It would be a shame to drop it if she has already completed most of the coursework.

But if it helps her stop having a breakdown, then that is a conversation the school should be willing to engage with.

We do regret a little bit that ds has nothing to show on paper for the work he'd done - but it was deffo the best thing for him to drop it. If he is ever that bothered, he could take the GCSE in that subject at a later date.

I think the not getting a seat was the trigger rather than the not doing her homework

But you are right she shouldn't be this upset.

I guess I am panicking about her report but her form teacher said:
"I honestly don't know how DD manages to balance her school work and other commitments but somehow she does. She has incredibly good organisational skills and she sees the benefit of achieving a good set of GCSE results. DD also manages to be an excellent prefect, be smartly dressed and punctual. Her attendance is below average but she keeps up with her studies. Well done, DD." which is just lovely

Eng/Maths/Drama all have 1 for effort Science & Business are 2; Drama, Science & Business are all one year courses - is an E at this stage worrying?

Business is GCSE, Noblegiraffe

I emailed the school & they replied straight away!! Impressive

They are going to discuss it and get back to me (not dropping a subject, but general concern about grades/stress levels)

Very impressive indeed. Hope they can do something to help your dd.

I hope you manage to work something out. My focus would be on getting the English and maths at Grade C or above. After that, science.

That's what I was thinking

Thanks

My y11 dd dropped a subject in September - there are a few kids who have done, for various reasons. They either sit in the learning support area and work, or to the library to work - they can be ticked off that lesson's register wherever they are. My dd usually goes to the library. It's been really really good for her!

We said to them that the way we imagined the situation playing out was that either she didn't put any/much effort into that subject and got a low grade that looked bad with her others, or she worked hard at it, got a decent grade, but actually that particular subject (same as Business Studies really) wasn't going to add anything positive/useful to her portfolio.

My DD had a couple of weeks out of school towards the end of the Autumn term and was already trying to juggle a full timetable which didn't leave time for her learning support lessons. She dropped Drama last term and has just dropped French so she can now concentrate on English, Maths, Science and the subjects she wants to study at AS/A level. I have a happier, more relaxed daughter, who seems to be very focussed on her work now. My only regret is that she didn't drop at least one subject earlier but I would say go ahead and drop an irrelevant subject if she can use the time better.

Thanks - that is very reassuring

I am being drip fed information

Several of the teachers are insisting their subject is the most important & she must use her free periods to catch up. She has been sharing her frees to do some for each subject

I have said all frees to be used for English, Maths, Science & Business (turn & turn about) until I have information back from the school - which I may use to change that decision....who knows

I think that is fair - spending 5 frees doing business this week is not on (IMO) when she is behind in all of the subjects & DD is too shy/upset/wants to please to say no (so I said it for her)